First off, watch this and know that my next door neighbor “One Arm Pete” is a bad ass. You will not regret watching one single second of the next eight a half minutes.
Gimp Monkeys from ARC’TERYX on Vimeo.
Ya. Right? My favorite quote from Pete:
It’s all about attitude and it’s all about perception. What to you really perceive as hard? I feel like having one arm – it’s a pretty minor inconvenience really, and that’s just my perception. So that’s allowed me to do a lot of things in life and not hold me back. The right attitude and one arm will beat the wrong attitude and two arms every time.
So ya, that’s what my next door neighbor has been doing this past summer while I allowed myself to get lazy. Pete moved in the month before we bought our house 2 1/2 years ago, so as long as we have lived here, he has been the neighbor that we BBQ and chat over the back fence with. Pete is funny as hell. He works really long hours and is dedicated to his job. He loves to drink beer with his friends. And he is inspired when it comes to rock climbing. It has driven him to be better, to work harder, and to put in the hours to be really great at something.
I want to do that. Two years ago I was doing that. (Albeit in a very beginning manner!)
I’m not saying I want to be an amazing rock climber (though it’s not a bad goal – every one of my friends who climbs around here has a rock hard body!)… I just want to work again at being inspired about something. To treat my body well. To push myself past my limits.
Today I’m going to a spin class. I’m a little petrified and a little excited, all at the same time. I’m also starting to get back into my hot yoga classes, and I want to actually focus on trying to run again. I want to do better by my body and by myself. My husband told me the other day that I needed to focus on me again, because with every pound I put on, he can see me becoming more and more unhappy. I’ve seen you do this before, Jos, and I don’t want it to be like that again. Poor guy…he’s not just worried about me, he’s worried about him. I’m not happy when I feel unhealthy, and by extension, I’m not nice to my husband.
SO. I’m recommitting myself to this.
My little sister is getting married in 101 days. I am going to do my best to get back to being a healthy, fit, active person in those 101 days. I have about 15 weeks to lose 15# to get to a place where I feel really good about myself again (a toned 150# on a 5’8″ frame looks great on me).
No more excuses. No more bad attitudes. I can do this. I will do this.
Thanks for the inspiration, Neighbor Pete.
You are such a strong person & can do anything that you set your mind to! You CAN do this and you WILL do this!!! Go Josey!!!
AND that video is freaking nuts! Those guys are so awesome!
Whoa. God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy. 🙂 That video is terrific. Of course you can do this, Josey. That’s a given. Lots of people believe in you, use that when you doubt yourself. And practice being kind to yourself. And your husband. No matter what. 🙂 Love you forever. xxMom
Same to you, Mom!!
You can do this and have done this. It’s so easy to be lazy, it’s hard to do work and exercise and be fit. Hard, but not impossible! I like it when you post about it here, it makes me feel extra lazy when you are trying and posting about it here and I’m just sitting on my ass.
You got this! I think it’s good to have an end goal in sight so you can keep yourself motivated. We’ll be here to help support you along the way!
This post and yesterday’s are linked somehow; I just can’t get there yet. (too early in the morning maybe 🙂 )
The whole obsessed word choice conversation was something I was trying to convey as well but couldn’t.
Do you have a timeline in mind for TTC#2? After your sister’s wedding? Before?
There’s something here, something that goes together in these posts. You don’t want to “obsess” about one thing, but do want to focus a ton of positive energy toward another.
I guess I’ll bring this rambling, incoherent comment to an end now and hope you or someone else can figure out what the heck I’m thinking and put into words.
Very true. I want to be focused about something that makes me feel strong and happy… and not about something that makes me feel frustrated and broken.
No “trying” TTC#2 until at least after my sister’s wedding Feb 2nd (though we’ve never prevented since Stella was born – I am nursing still though and no AF for me yet). Honestly, even then I don’t know if we’ll try for awhile. If an “accident” happens, that would be freaking amazing, but it’s highly doubtful, and I just don’t think I’m ready for the negativity that i associate with TTC to be in my life. I guess I’m a bit of a control freak in a way, and if I can get my body/mind/spirit into better shape, I hope that I’ll handle TTC better the next time around.
Firstly, WOW, this video is awesome and definitely worth the 8 1/2 minutes. Those guys are amazing!!! I can see why your neighbour is such an inspiration! I am in awe.
Secondly, good for you for taking on this challenge to get fit in 101 days because I agree that I am sure you will feel a million times better about everything when you feel better about yourself and your body. I know I am definitely that way!! Good luck!
Your neighbour.. and you inspire me to do the same! If I am honest, I may be losing weight but I am really doing nothing to deserve it… I ate an ice cream sandwich and another serving of ice cream just last night and that isn’t even odd for me these days!! I am sure Alidia’s nursing is the only reason I am not gaining so what the heck happens when she weans in a few months?! Eek. Plus, I am definitely not getting toned right now. I need to get my butt in gear too!!
You go girl! I did a MaxMuscle diet last year and did really well. I started at a BMI of 26% and got down to 21% (he actually took muscle mass measurements vs weight/height estimates). I would be happy to sure with you what/how I was eating if you are interested. With the diet and some weight training, I think it was the best/healthiest I ever looked. Plus, I was getting abs without doing crunches!
Ok apparently my obsession right now is your blog. I’m back to comment more 🙂
I have absolutely no idea where I get off giving exercise advice (it just took me 12 times to spell it right!) but have you heard of/tried P90X? It sounds stupid hard to me, but sounds like the timing would be perfect for the wedding.
you can totally do this. The spin classes and yoga sound like a great plan. No more excuses! 🙂
I know you’re gonna totally knock it out of the ball park. I gotta say that your neighbor kicks major butt. That just got even me pumped and inspired.
You go, girl!! (Cheesy, but it works!)
You can do it! Perspective IS everything, and you have it right! Good luck! 🙂
“My leg just fell off”!!! Awesome video – so inspirational. And I like that your goal is centered more around being healthy, fit, and active – that’s so much more important than weightloss per se. Good luck and, more importantly, have fun as you work towards your goals!